Sure we may not sound as regal as the British, as high on life as the Scottish or as effortlessly cool as Australians but hey, we do have some pull when it comes to our favorite actor imports ditching their mother tongue for a good ol' American drawl.
From Hugh Laurie, Ed Westwick and Ryan Kwanten to Andrew Garfield and Emma Watson, they may find their motherland across the pond but they certainly feel right at home portraying the red, white and blue on camera. From Australian to backyard Southern and English to Upper East Side, these experts of their craft not only had to get the lines down but had to train with linguists to find the highs and lows of our gorgeous dialect.
So let's raise our glass to the wannabes out there -- you may have nailed your on-screen interpretation of us Yankees but there's still one thing that just can't be learned, our pride.
Hugh Laurie, most fondly referred to as 'House,' is as American as you can get when it comes to his on-screen doc job -- a medical genius (aren't we all) with just a touch of irritability (okay fine, that too). True to our American ways or not, Laurie has us fooled season after season.
Ed Westwick is the Upper East Side's most notorious conniving bad boy who we just can't get enough of. His unfazed one-liners are only magnified by his endearingly raspy whispering. As far as we're concerned, he's a posh New Yorker at heart.
Although she dons a ditsy blond valley girl American accent in every interview she's asked to give it a go (does she really think we all sound like that), Emma Watson's true American chops will be put to the test when her forthcoming flick, 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower,' hits theater in 2012.
Although his spidey suit is red and blue, the new Spider-Man inside won't be as patriotic -- Andrew Garfield, who will be embodying the super hero in the newest installment of the 'Spider-Man' series, due out next year, is actually a British bloke who also showed off his best American accent for his breakthrough role in 'The Social Network.'
If they really are a family, they're an eclectic one at that. The 'Brothers & Sisters' gang is a veritable United Nations -- Matthew Rhys, who plays Kevin, was born in Wales and on-screen sister, Rachel Griffiths, hails from Melbourne.
Forget 'The Good Wife,' talk about a good accent. 'Good Wife' star, Alan Cumming may play a manipulative politico on the show but he's one Scot who also proves that he can manipulate the English language like a pro.
From sizzling Australia to the deep south, Ryan Kwanten may play the brother to a telepathic waitress in a town filled with blood sucking vampires, but in real life, the only thing he sinks his teeth into is the best of Australian barbecue.
Barb, I agree. If you can't be yourself, you have a problem. I still don't understand why movie studios have to look overseas to find talent. What was the point of having Christian Bale and Russell Crowe as the leads in that pitiful remake of " 3:10 to Yuma " .The mere fact that somebody thought that a remake was necessary shows that talent is nonexistent in Hollyweird. Then, if a remake actually WAS in order ( God knows why ) , didn't anyone bother to look for American actors with (gasp!) authentic American accents?. Or, was it simply that Messers Crowe and Bale were brought in to ensure bigger box office receipts? It's all just about money, anyway, so who cares what the audience thinks, right?
Its been said (by whom I can't recall) and its worth repeating. The English are the only people who "cannot" speak their own language". Don't laugh. Many of you think "southerner" talk funny. Take a listen to New yorkers. You can take 4 or 5 together and they all want to talk at the same time. And what really amazes me, they seem to understand what the others said! Have to admit you have me scratching my head. One can be a jew, one german, irishman, arab and japanese. I just wonder if these guys work for the United Nations? Just a thought. To all you yankees. Don't get your "bowels" in an up roars. Just joking!
Only Ryan Kwanten (Jason) is mentioned from "True Blood"? What about British Stephen Moyer (Bill)and New Zealander Anna Paquin (Sookie)? Their native accents are likewise invisible under their characters' southern accents.
How can they forget my favorite actor Christian Bale. Does an excellent New York accent in some movies he had to play. I am sure he did other accents as well.
So Hollywood had to go overseas to get a dork like Andrew Garfield? I mean that's one he'll of a ya yutz. He's a douche. He looks like a clown. He is one alien I wish we could deport. He will ruin the spiderman franchise. AND enough withe the Potter Bull! It's not 1999. The cast are in their 20s. Radcliffe adds nothing to American entertainment unless he is cast in the Hobbit part Two. Put an end to it for the love of God!
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Sure we may not sound as regal as the British, as high on life as the Scottish or as effortlessly cool as Australians but hey, we do have some pull when it comes to our favorite actor imports ditching their mother tongue for a good ol' American drawl.
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Where's my favorite aussie.....Simon Baker?
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Omg I loooove Simon Baker.. I had no idea he was Australian for the longest time! lol His American accent is amazing (and sexy).
Probably out taking one in the behind!
How could they leave off Gary Oldman. That man can do American, Russian, etc etc
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And then there was the late Grace Kelly, who affected an unusual accent throughout her film career, and it wasn't an American one.
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Huh? I never heard of "flossing" as a slang term and I'm American.
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Hugh Laurie does an EXCELLENT job........ I didn't even KNOW he was British until I saw him on Saturday Night Live!
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I am british and i am legal and i am tired of people pretending to be something they are not.....stand proud for ONCE!!!!
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thank you very much!
Barb, I agree. If you can't be yourself, you have a problem. I still don't understand why movie studios have to look overseas to find talent. What was the point of having Christian Bale and Russell Crowe as the leads in that pitiful remake of " 3:10 to Yuma " .The mere fact that somebody thought that a remake was necessary shows that talent is nonexistent in Hollyweird. Then, if a remake actually WAS in order ( God knows why ) , didn't anyone bother to look for American actors with (gasp!) authentic American accents?. Or, was it simply that Messers Crowe and Bale were brought in to ensure bigger box office receipts? It's all just about money, anyway, so who cares what the audience thinks, right?
Its been said (by whom I can't recall) and its worth repeating. The English are the only people who "cannot" speak their own language". Don't laugh. Many of you think "southerner" talk funny. Take a listen to New yorkers. You can take 4 or 5 together and they all want to talk at the same time. And what really amazes me, they seem to understand what the others said! Have to admit you have me scratching my head. One can be a jew, one german, irishman, arab and japanese. I just wonder if these guys work for the United Nations? Just a thought. To all you yankees. Don't get your "bowels" in an up roars. Just joking!
Reply
Robert Pattinson! Sexiest accent ever
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lmfao
Ok, I guess you have a lot of space to fill. So, a lot of garbage. gets in
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Only Ryan Kwanten (Jason) is mentioned from "True Blood"? What about British Stephen Moyer (Bill)and New Zealander Anna Paquin (Sookie)? Their native accents are likewise invisible under their characters' southern accents.
Reply
How can they forget my favorite actor Christian Bale. Does an excellent New York accent in some movies he had to play. I am sure he did other accents as well.
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Don't forget about Charlie Hunnam on Sons of Anarchy!!! He does a great american accent to play a hardcore biker!! And he is good to look at too!!
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So Hollywood had to go overseas to get a dork like Andrew Garfield? I mean that's one he'll of a ya yutz. He's a douche. He looks like a clown. He is one alien I wish we could deport. He will ruin the spiderman franchise. AND enough withe the Potter Bull! It's not 1999. The cast are in their 20s. Radcliffe adds nothing to American entertainment unless he is cast in the Hobbit part Two. Put an end to it for the love of God!
Reply
Everybody knows Americans don't have accents, the rest of the world does.
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